The National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) , Northern People’s Congress (NPC), and Yoruba-based the country still has a strong base of nationalism. Witnessing India’s independence from Britain in 1947, Action Group are the three main thriving political groups. Even though Nigeria is under British control, their nationalism continued to grow (pbs.org). This strong nationalism lead to Britain passing a new constitution on Nigeria stating that provincial councils shall have a greater say in national affairs (worldgeography.abc-clio.com). The head of the NCNC party, Nnamdi Azikiwe, did not allow for this constitution to go into action. Azikiwe rejected this document instead. In the following years in 1954 Britain, fearing Nigeria’s growing nationalism, passed another constitution stating that Nigeria was to be divided into three separate sections; Eastern, Western, and Northern along with Lagos (worldgeography.abc-clio.com). By passing this new constitution Britain intended for these three sections to be self-governing, which happened in 1956 for the East and West and later in 1957 for the North. At the end of the decade in December 1959 Nigeria held elections for a federal legislative. The NPC won this election, however they combined with the NCNC (worldgeography.abc-clio.com)
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa: First Ruler of Independent Nigeria
Independence
On October 1, 1960 Nigeria gained its independence from Britain. Nigeria then joined the Commonwealth of Nations (worldgeography.abc-clio.com). In need of a ruler, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was chosen to be the first leader of the independent country. Balewa supported the NPC and NCNC, which worked well because they both combined to form one political party. Nigeria’s first presidential election took place in 1963. Nnamdi Azikiwe was elected the first president. Exactly three years after Nigeria became independent, the country declared itself as The Federal Republic of Nigeria (pbs.org). Before being elected to presidency Azikiwe was the head of the NCNC. As president Azikiwe had the government adopt a centralized economy similar to their colonial predecessors (pbs.org).
First Coup
In 1966 the first of many coup d'etats occur. Regional military hostilities worked to kill Balewa (pbs.org). Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi took power after the successful coup and changed the government to a very military based one. Ironsi got rid of legislation and stopped the constitution from mattering (pbs.org). In addition to this, Ironsi also had civilian appointed politics be replaced by military governors, which he appointed. Within a year, Ironsi was killed in another coup. This left Yakubu Gowon in power (pbs.org).
LIFE Magazine Cover of The Biafran War
Biafran War
For an ongoing period of time Northern Nigeria caused violent conflict over the economic policies (pbs.org). This caused for rising tensions. However, it was Eastern Nigeria that caused the main conflict. Eastern Nigeria referred to themselves as The Independent Republic of Biafra. This lead of Gown to immediately attack on them. On May 30, 1967 the first Civil War in Nigeria, better known as the Biafran War, began (pbs.org). An Estimated 3,000-5,000 died daily on the Eastern side due to naval blockades put up by Nigeria. The inability for food shipments to reach the citizens led to this (blackpast.org). In the beginning Nigeria thought it would be an easy win, however it was not. In the end though, The Independent Republic of Biafra surrendered. The Biafran War ended on January 15, 1970 (blackpast.org). Over one million people died due to a combination of the war and starvation (pbs.org).
Ahmadu Bello
Islam in Nigeria
The Islamic beliefs spread into Nigeria in 1960 when the country gained independence. Ahmadu Bello spread the belief by converting over one hundred thousand people (dhspriory.org). Bello accomplished this through the Islamization programme. The Islamic beliefs caused for opposing views in the government. During the 1966 coup the spread of Islam was suspended. However, during the 1970s the government preferred Islamic views over their countries own (ascleiden.nl). This caused for conflicts between multiple religions. The inevitable conflicts between religions caused for it to be impossible for Nigeria to fully and successfully unify.
Unstable Government and Economy
In 1975 yet another coup d'etat occurs. Unlike the ones in the past this one is bloodless. Murtala Muhammed comes to power causing Gowon to be overthrown. Muhammed promises to have political and economic reforms. He also says that he will return to a civilian elected rule (pbs.org). Unfortunately the instability of the Nigerian government increases as Muhammad is assassinated within a year of taking rule. Olusegun Obasanjo follows Muhammed and promises to continue on with what he had promised to do (pbs.org). With the formation of these new promises, The Second Nigerian Republic was formed. In 1979 Alhaji Shehu Shagari was elected president. Shagari decentralized power and gave states the right to collect taxes. The government does not do well though because oil prices fall (pbs.org). The decrease in oil prices led to the decreased income trade money. The government did not pay attention to this though as they continued to spend money. This continuous spending led to an increase in debt and trouble for the Nigerian government.
Labeled Image of Nigeria's Oils
Globalization Hits Nigeria
Economic
In 1971 Nigeria joins the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) (pbs.org). By joining OPEC Nigeria takes it’s first footsteps into the world of globalization. Nigeria begins to rely greatly on the exportation of oil. Being the seventh largest petroleum exporting country, the exportation oil becomes a main economy booster (pbs.org). Nigeria also relies on foreign countries to come and extract the oil. This is a direct example of globalization because outsourcing is a part of globalization, which is demonstrated by Nigeria exporting all their oil.
Political
With the spread of Islam into Nigeria the government faced many conflicts. Nigerian governments preferred Islamic beliefs over their own in the 1970s. This caused for religions to have conflicts between them. As mentioned before, this then caused for Nigeria to be unable to successfully unify.
Social
Nigeria's social aspect was not greatly impacted. The main effect on socialism was that the country began to trade their oil. Nigeria would trade their oil in exchange for goods from other countries.
Created By: Emily Faller; Weston Public Schools 2014
Table of Contents
Pre-Independence
The National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) , Northern People’s Congress (NPC), and Yoruba-based the country still has a strong base of nationalism. Witnessing India’s independence from Britain in 1947, Action Group are the three main thriving political groups. Even though Nigeria is under British control, their nationalism continued to grow (pbs.org). This strong nationalism lead to Britain passing a new constitution on Nigeria stating that provincial councils shall have a greater say in national affairs (worldgeography.abc-clio.com). The head of the NCNC party, Nnamdi Azikiwe, did not allow for this constitution to go into action. Azikiwe rejected this document instead. In the following years in 1954 Britain, fearing Nigeria’s growing nationalism, passed another constitution stating that Nigeria was to be divided into three separate sections; Eastern, Western, and Northern along with Lagos (worldgeography.abc-clio.com). By passing this new constitution Britain intended for these three sections to be self-governing, which happened in 1956 for the East and West and later in 1957 for the North. At the end of the decade in December 1959 Nigeria held elections for a federal legislative. The NPC won this election, however they combined with the NCNC (worldgeography.abc-clio.com)Independence
On October 1, 1960 Nigeria gained its independence from Britain. Nigeria then joined the Commonwealth of Nations (worldgeography.abc-clio.com). In need of a ruler, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was chosen to be the first leader of the independent country. Balewa supported the NPC and NCNC, which worked well because they both combined to form one political party. Nigeria’s first presidential election took place in 1963. Nnamdi Azikiwe was elected the first president.Exactly three years after Nigeria became independent, the country declared itself as The Federal Republic of Nigeria (pbs.org).
Before being elected to presidency Azikiwe was the head of the NCNC. As president Azikiwe had the government adopt a
centralized economy similar to their colonial predecessors (pbs.org).
First Coup
In 1966 the first of many coup d'etats occur. Regional military hostilities worked to kill Balewa (pbs.org). Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi took power after the successful coup and changed the government to a very military based one. Ironsi got rid of legislation and stopped the constitution from mattering (pbs.org). In addition to this, Ironsi also had civilian appointed politics be replaced by military governors, which he appointed. Within a year, Ironsi was killed in another coup. This left Yakubu Gowon in power (pbs.org).Biafran War
For an ongoing period of time Northern Nigeria caused violent conflict over the economic policies (pbs.org). This caused for rising tensions. However, it was Eastern Nigeria that caused the main conflict. Eastern Nigeria referred to themselves as The Independent Republic of Biafra. This lead of Gown to immediately attack on them. On May 30, 1967 the first Civil War in Nigeria, better known as the Biafran War, began (pbs.org). An Estimated 3,000-5,000 died daily on the Eastern side due to naval blockades put up by Nigeria. The inability for food shipments to reach the citizens led to this (blackpast.org). In the beginning Nigeria thought it would be an easy win, however it was not. In the end though, The Independent Republic of Biafra surrendered. The Biafran War ended on January 15, 1970 (blackpast.org). Over one million people died due to a combination of the war and starvation (pbs.org).Islam in Nigeria
The Islamic beliefs spread into Nigeria in 1960 when the country gained independence. Ahmadu Bello spread the belief by converting over one hundred thousand people (dhspriory.org). Bello accomplished this through the Islamization programme. The Islamic beliefs caused for opposing views in the government. During the 1966 coup the spread of Islam was suspended. However, during the 1970s the government preferred Islamic views over their countries own (ascleiden.nl). This caused for conflicts between multiple religions. The inevitable conflicts between religions caused for it to be impossible for Nigeria to fully and successfully unify.Unstable Government and Economy
In 1975 yet another coup d'etat occurs. Unlike the ones in the past this one is bloodless. Murtala Muhammed comes to power causing Gowon to be overthrown. Muhammed promises to have political and economic reforms. He also says that he will return to a civilian elected rule (pbs.org). Unfortunately the instability of the Nigerian government increases as Muhammad is assassinated within a year of taking rule. Olusegun Obasanjo follows Muhammed and promises to continue on with what he had promised to do (pbs.org). With the formation of these new promises, The Second Nigerian Republic was formed. In 1979 Alhaji Shehu Shagari was elected president. Shagari decentralized power and gave states the right to collect taxes. The government does not do well though because oil prices fall (pbs.org). The decrease in oil prices led to the decreased income trade money. The government did not pay attention to this though as they continued to spend money. This continuous spending led to an increase in debt and trouble for the Nigerian government.
Globalization Hits Nigeria
Economic
In 1971 Nigeria joins the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) (pbs.org). By joining OPEC Nigeria takes it’s first footsteps into the world of globalization. Nigeria begins to rely greatly on the exportation of oil. Being the seventh largest petroleum exporting country, the exportation oil becomes a main economy booster (pbs.org). Nigeria also relies on foreign countries to come and extract the oil. This is a direct example of globalization because outsourcing is a part of globalization, which is demonstrated by Nigeria exporting all their oil.Political
With the spread of Islam into Nigeria the government faced many conflicts. Nigerian governments preferred Islamic beliefs over their own in the 1970s. This caused for religions to have conflicts between them. As mentioned before, this then caused for Nigeria to be unable to successfully unify.Social
Nigeria's social aspect was not greatly impacted. The main effect on socialism was that the country began to trade their oil. Nigeria would trade their oil in exchange for goods from other countries.Created By: Emily Faller; Weston Public Schools 2014
MLA Annotated Works Cited